Massaging and bathing apparatus



jam. 7, 1936.

E. KAHNT MASSAGING AND BATHING APPARATUS Filed Feb. '7, 1954 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 7, 1936. E. KAHNT MASSAGING AND BATHING APPARATUSFiled Feb. 7', 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 7, 193 6. E, KAHNT 2,026,981

MASSAGING AND BATHING APPARATUS I Filed Fb. 7, 1934 s Sheets-Sheet 5 Tagv 04 90 14 ii 6.5 [I

Patented Jan. 7, 1936 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE MASS AGING AND BATHINGAPPARATUS Ellis Kahnt, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 7, 1934, Serial No..'710,047

' Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in massaging and bathingapparatus and more particv.ularly to a massaging and bathing apparatusof a unitary construction and has as its principal objects to provide acombined bathing and massaging apparatus of a novel and improvedconstruction wherein a power actuated massaging device is provided incombination with a shower which may be so arranged as to readily beapplied to any portion of the body, which device may have water impingedthereon for use for both masaging and cleansing purposes and is arrangedwith a view towards compactness and utmost efliciency in operation anduse of water.

Other objects of my invention will appear from time to time as thefollowing specification proceeds.

My invention may best be understood with reference to the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance withmy invention with parts broken away and in section to show certaindetails thereof;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the device shown in Figure l with certainparts removed to more clearly show certain details thereof;

Figure 3 is an enlarged plan view of a portion of the embodiment of myinvention shown in Figure 1 with parts broken away and in section toshow certain details of my invention;

Figure a is an enlarged partial fragmentary sectional view takensubstantially along line 4--4 of Figure 3 showing certain details of myinvention not shown in Figure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged partial fragmentary sectional view takensubstantially along line 55 of Figure 3 showing certain details of myinvention not shown in Figures 3 and 4;

Figure 6 is an enlarged plan view of the massaging device of myinvention;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional View taken substantially along linel---'! of Figure 6;

Figure 8 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along lineSil of Figure 7; and

Figure 9 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along line9-9 of Figure '7.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the variousfigures.

Referring now to the details of construction of the embodiment of myinvention illustrated in the drawings, the main elements thereof consistof a base it having suitable side walls I I, H extending upwardlytherefrom a distance suflicient to retain water therein and prevent itfrom splashing on the floor and permit it to be discharged through asuitable drain (not shown) a power and storage unit 52 carried by saidbase adjacent one end thereof; a shower nozzle l3; a cleansing andmassaging device, generally indicated by reference character M; askeleton frame i5 extending vertically upwardly from said base; andfluid repellant curtains l6, it carried thereby in the usual manner.

The skeleton frame it includes three members ll, herein shown asextending upwardly from the corners of the base it and secured theretoin a suitable manner. The members ll, ll are connected together adjacenttheir upper ends by means of horizontal connecting members l8, l3.Members l9, iii are hingedly connected to the upper ends of the membersH, H and their outer ends abut each other and are braced by means ofdetachable braces I911, Wu. The members IS, 59 may be connected togetherat their ends and said members with the members l8, l8 are so arrangedthat their outline in plan is substantially a rectangle. The members l8,l3 and !9, I9 serve as a support for rings 26, 28 which carry the showercurtain IS, I 6 thereon. Suitable arcuately formed rods 2|, 2! areprovided adjacent the lower ends of the shower curtains l6, l6 beneaththe top of the side walls I I, l l for slidably supporting the lowerends of the curtains it, I 6.

With reference now in particular to the details of the power and storageunit 12 and several of the novel features of my invention, said unit isenclosed by means of side walls 23 and 24 extending upwardly from thebase 16 and abutting the side Walls H, l I, and a cover 25 enclosing thetop thereof. The side wall 23 is lower than the side wall I I so thecover 25 may be inclined to permit water to drain therefrom. The jointsbetween the cover and side walls ll, ll, 23 and 24 may be of a suitablewater-tight construction to prevent water from entering the enclosurefor the power unit.

A fluid storage tank 21 is provided within the enclosure formed by theside walls H, H, 23 and 24 and is of an ordinary construction beingprovided with an opening closed by a cover 28, a pressure outletincluding a pipe 29 and a by-pass opening 3G. As herein shown, thestorage tank 21 may be filled with water of the desired temperaturethrough the opening, closed by the cover 28, although it is obvious thatif desired the device may be so arranged that either heated or coldwater taken from the ordinary household hydrant may be discharged intosaid storage tank, and that suitable heating and temperature controlapparatus may be provided for said tank, said apparatus not herein beingshown since it is no portion of my present invention.

The pipe 29 is connected to and serves as an inlet to a pressure pumpindicated by reference character 3|. The pump 3| may be of any suitableconstruction, but is herein preferably shown as being a gear pump of ausual construction, so arranged as to take up a small amount of verticaland lateral space and still be of suflicient capacity to effect therequired pressure to the system. A pipe line 33 is connected to thepressure side of the pump 3| and extends upwardly therefrom. The pipeline 33 is braced to the members H, H in a suitable manner, as isclearly shown in Figure 1, and forms a fluid conductor for the showernozzle I3 which nozzle is mounted in a ball and socket 34 so it may bedirected where desired. A valve 35 is provided in the pipe line 33 tocontrol the flow of water through the nozzle l3. A T 36 is connected inthe pipe line 33 and has a flexible tube 31 connected thereto in asuitable manner, which tube leads to the massaging device l4 fordirecting water thereon under control of the operator in a manner whichwill hereinafter be more fully described.

A by-pass line 38 leads from the pipe line 33 to a by-pass valve 39connected to the by-pass opening 38 in the storage tank 21. The by-passvalve 39 is of the ordinary spring controlled ball type for by-passingwater to the storage tank 31 when the valves to the shower and massagingdevice are not in use and when pressures in the system become excessive.

The pump 3| is mounted on a base 40 spaced above the bottom Ill of theenclosure for the power and storage unit I2 and extending from thestorage tank 21 to the end thereof. A motor 4| is mounted on the base 40adjacent an end thereof opposite the tank 21 and is insulated therefromby means of suitable insulating members indi cated by referencecharacter 43. (See Figure 4.) The motor 4| may be of any type well knownto those skilled in the art, but is herein preferably shown as being anenclosed electric motor of a water tight construction. The motor 4| maybe controlled in any suitable manner; as, for instance, a push buttoncontrol remote from the motor and mechanism (not shown), so that it mustbe turned on before the bather enters the apparatus and can turn on thewater, in order to minimize the danger of electrical shocks.

The motor 4| is provided with a shaft 44 which has driving connectionwith an alined shaft 45 by means of a coupling member 46. The shaft 45is journaled in a gear housing 4'! secured to the base 48. A pinion 48is keyed on the shaft 45 and meshes with and drives a spur gear 49 keyedon a shaft 50. The shaft 58 is journaled in the gear housing 41 and hasan eccentric formed integral therewith adjacent the spur gear 46 and isoperatively connected with the pump 3| in a suitable manner for drivingsaid pump.

An eccentric strap 53 is journaled on the eccentric 5| and has aconnecting member 54 formed integral therewith pivotally connected witha push rod 55 by means of a pivotal pin 55. The push rod 55 is guidedwithin an upstanding projection 51 from the gear housing 41, whichprojection extends through the cover 25. Suitable packing may beprovided between the projection 57 and the cover 25 as well as betweenthe pipe line 33 and said cover to keep water from passing through saidcover.

With reference now in particular to the details of the massaging deviceM and several other of the novel features of my invention, a flexibledrive shaft 59 is secured to the upper end of the push rod 55 and heldthereto by means of a nut 65. The opposite end of the flexible driveshaft 5 59 has an annular formation 6| thereon having a convex facewhich is carried within a ball shaped socket 62 formed in the end of. arod 63 for pivotal movement with respect to said rod. The rod 63 iscarried in a member 64 for slidable movement with respect thereto. Themember 64 in turn is carried within a handle 65 of the massaging devicel4 and held from movement with respect thereto by means of a set screw56.

A flexible housing 91 is spaced from and sur- 5 rounds the flexibledrive shaft 59 and is secured to the projection 51 adjacent one of itsends by means of a member 68 threaded on said projection. The oppositeend of the flexible housing 61 is secured to the member 64 in a suitablemanner by means of a member 99 threaded on the rearward end of saidmember.

A body portion 70 is herein shown as being formed integral with handle65 and is provided with a pair of inwardly facing parallel-spacedlongitudinally extending guides 1|, 1| formed therein and adapted toform a slidable support for a plate 13. The plate 13 has an integralbifurcated connecting portion 14 extending rearwardly therefromconnected to the rod 63 by means of a pin 15.

A brush I6 is adapted to be detachably secured to the plate 13 by meansof a clip and ball connection, generally indicated by referencecharacter 11. The arrangement is such that the type of brush used may bereadily changed, or a sponge rubber or analagous massaging device may besubstituted therefor if desired.

It is thus apparent that rotation of the motor 4| will reciprocably movethe brush 16 at a relatively high rate of speed through the eccentric 5|and flexible shaft 59 and that said brushmay be so reciprocated when invarious positions on the body, said flexible shaft being of sufficientlength to permit said brush to reach any portion on the body. It shouldbe noted that while I have herein shown the brush 16 as beingreciprocably driven by means of a motor and eccentric that it may bereciprocated by water pressure or various other means without departingfrom the spirit and scope of my invention.

With reference now to the means for controlling the flow of water fromthe flexible tube 31 to the bristles of the brush 16 said tube is heldto the flexible housing 61 in a suitable manner for movement therewithand secured to the end of a connecting member 19 threaded within thehandle 65, which member leads to a chamber 88. The chamber leads to apassageway 8| in the handle 65 and may be closed by means of a valve 6083, which valve is normally held in a closed position by means of aspring 84 encircling an extension 85 of the stem of said valve andinterposed between a collar 86 and said handle. The valve 83 and chamber80 may be opened to admit 65 fluid under pressure into the passageway 8|by means of an operating lever 81 having a forked portion 88 pivotallysecured to opposite sides of the handle 65 and having a recessed portion89 adapted to engage the end of theextension 85 70 of the stem of thevalve 83 so that movement of said operating handle in one'direction willcompress the spring 84 and open said valve.

A pair of pipes 99, 90 lead forwardly from the passageway 8| andupwardly therefrom and along 7.5

opposite sides of the body portion and are secured to flanges 9|, 9|formed integral with said body portion and disposed adjacent oppositesides of the brush 16. The ends of the pipes 93, 90 are closed and aplurality of openings 92, 92 directed towards the brush 16 are providedtherein so that water under pressure may be directed to said brush.

It is thus apparent that when using the massaging device I4 formassaging purposes it is not necessary to apply Water thereto, but thatwater under pressure may be applied to said massaging device whendesired by squeezing the operating lever 81. It may also be seen thatsince the flow of water is under the control of the bather and isnormally shut off, that a considerable saving in water may be effectedin normal bathing operations, the shower nozzle [3 only being in usewhen it is desired to completely rinse off.

It may now be seen that I have provided a new and useful bathingapparatus of a novel, compact, efficient and unitary construction whichmay readily be moved from place to place and is particularly adapted foruse in places having a limited water supply and where water is notsupplied under pressure.

It may also be seen that the device of my invention may be used formassaging as well as bathing purposes and that where conditions are suchthat water is supplied under pressure, the tank 2'! and pump 3! may beeliminated and the water connections may be made direct from theordinary plumbing connections.

While I have herein shown and described one form of my invention, itwill be understood that the construction and arrangement of the variousparts may be altered without departing from the spirit and scopethereof. Furthermore, I do not wish to be construed as limiting myselfto the specific form illustrated, execepting as it may be specificallylimited in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A massaging apparatus including a handle, a massaging membersupported thereby for reciprocable movement with respect thereto, andmeans for reciprocably moving said massaging member with respect to saidhandle comprising a frame remote from said massaging member, a motor, areciprocably movable member driven by said motor and supported in saidframe, and a flexible drive connection between said reciprocably movablemember and massaging member comprising a flexible housing connectedbetween said handle and frame and a flexible drive shaft carried withinsaid housing and operatively connected between said reciprocably movablememher and massaging member.

2. In an apparatus of the class described, a frame having a reciprocablydriven member guided for movement therein, a massaging device, flexibledrive means for operating said massaging device including a flexiblehousing secured to said frame at one of its ends and a flexible driveshaft carried therein and secured at one of its ends to an end of saidreciprocably driven member, said massaging device including a bodyportion having a handle extending rearwardly therefrom, said bodyportion having parallel spaced guides on one side thereof having asupport plate slidably mounted therein, said plate having a massagingmember secured to the upper face thereof and having a portion extendingrearwardly therefrom within said handle, and a drive connection fromsaid flexible drive shaft to said plate for reciprocably moving saidplate in said guides including a member guided for reciprocable movementin said handle and having operative connection with said portion of saidplate extending within said handle at one of its ends,

a connection between the free end of the hous- 5 ing and the rearwardend of said handle, and an operative connection between the free end ofsaid flexible drive shaft and said member guided in said handle.

3. In an apparatus of the class described, a 10 frame having areciprocably driven member guided for movement therein, a massagingdevice, flexible drive means for operating said massaging deviceincluding a flexible housing secured to said frame at one of its endsand a flexible drive shaft carried therein and secured at one of itsends to an end of said reciprocably driven member, said massaging deviceincluding a body portion having a handle extending rearwardly therefrom,said body portion having parallel spaced guides on one side thereofhaving a support plate slidably mounted therein, said plate having amassaging member secured to the upper face thereof and having a portionextending rearwardly therefrom within said handle, and a driveconnection from said flexible drive shaft to said plate for reciprocablymoving said plate in said guides including a member guided forreciprocable movement in said handle and having operative connectionwith said portion of said plate extending within said handle at one ofits ends, a connection between the free end of the housing and therearward end of said handle, and an operative connection between thefree end of said flexible drive shaft and said member guided in saidhandle comprising a substantially ballshaped socket on the end of saidmember and an annular formation on the end of said flexible drive shafthaving a convex outer periphery adapted to engage said socket. 4O

4. In a massaging apparatus, a massaging device comprising a memberhaving a brush reciprocably movable with respect thereto, a handleextending from said member, a flexible housing interposed between saidhandle and a frame remote therefrom, and a reciprocably driven flexibledrive shaft carried within said housing, said drive shaft beingconnected with a reciprocably driven member guided within said frame atone of its ends and with a member slidably guided within said handle atits other end, and said last-named member having operative connectionwith said brush for reciprocably driving said brush, said handle havinga fluid passageway therein, and means communicating with said passagewayleading to opposite sides of said brush for applying fluid to said brushindependently of reciprocable movement thereof, and an operating leverpivoted to said handle for controlling the passage of fluid to saidbrush, whereby said lever may be manually operated by the hand whichholds said handle while applying said massaging device to the body.

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a massaging device includinga support member having a massaging member guided for reciprocablemovement with respect thereto, a handle extending from said supportmember, a flexible drive shaft having connection with said massagingmember adjacent one of its ends and a reciprocably driven memberadjacent its opposite end, and a flexible housing enclosing said driveshaft and connected between said handle and a member fixed fromreciprocable movement with respect to said reciprocably driven-member,said handle having a fluid passageway therein, means for conmovementthereof, and an operating lever on said handle for controlling saidvalve so arranged that said lever may be manually operated by the handwhich holds said handle While applying said massaging device to thebody. 5

ELLIS KAHNT.

